Don’t be a troll

I don’t normally take on current events and social issues in my devotional posts, and I’m not here to turn this post into a rant, but there’s a point to be taken in all this hoopla about Starbucks and their evil, evil red cups and their war on Christmas.

Don’t be a troll.

There are a lot of things in this world that Christians can and should be outraged over. There are people in other areas of the world being persecuted because of their faith in Jesus. There are children left homeless or orphaned all over the world. There are people who are completely lacking in any access to the Bible and they don’t know God’s love for them. But we’re worried about what a coffee chain decided to put (or not put) on their holiday coffee cups.

If you’re thinking that this coffee cup issue is someone worth taking up arms, I’d like to talk you down. I’d like to point you to Scripture. I’d love to converse with you about the results of things like mass boycotts and trolling the baristas who work in the coffee establishments in question. Do these actions point people to Jesus? Do they proclaim the gospel? Are any baristas going to know God more and come to love Him because you made a point by telling them your name was “Merry Christmas” so they’d have to write it on your cup? What are you doing to spread God’s love? What are you doing to feed the hungry and clothe the naked? Does this coffee boycott mean that less children will spend Christmas alone and longing for a loving family? OR will these actions just make you look mean-spirited?

Here’s a better question: Would Jesus approve of trolling Starbucks baristas because you think their company is declaring war on Christmas? I’m not one to normally pull Scripture out of its context, but I’m reminded of Colossians 2:8 lately. “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” Maybe it’s just my interpretation of the Bible, but I never saw Jesus tell His disciples to troll or to boycott. He DID say to spread the gospel and teach people about Him. He DID say to love your neighbor.He EVEN said to love your enemy (if you can actually call a coffee chain your enemy because of their choice in cup decor). But the behavior of many American Christians just doesn’t line up with the Jesus of the Bible. Maybe we should rethink what it means to be a Christian.